beaches

As I bike up to Oak Bay Beach Hotel, a deer is wandering out of the courtyard.
The luxury boutique hotel is just a 20-minute bike ride from downtown Victoria, but its leafy oceanfront location makes it feel more like a secluded retreat.

Natural, long sandy beaches; oceanfront lodges; a chilled-out surfer culture; abundant fitness options; memorable sunsets, spiritual and foodie friendly — these are some of the shared attributes you’ll fine in both Tofino, B.C. and San Diego, Calif.

Toby Meyer, James Sloane and their two children don’t often find themselves stuck for ways to spend their evenings and weekends. It doesn’t matter if it’s 20 degrees Celsius or -20, the family has no shortage of things to do just down the road from their new home. The family of four and their chocolate Labrador, Murphy, recently moved into a two-car front-attached garage home by Jayman MasterBuilt in Mahogany.

There was a time when travellers spoke of their holidays on the Riviera and they were referring to a trip to Italy, or maybe France, but these days just about any coastal area with an eye on attracting tourists is calling itself a Riviera.

While the search for flour-soft sand is a worthy vacation goal, there’s much to said for a rocky beach. It offers up a different kind of rugged beauty. The sound of the surf smashing against the shore can be mesmerizing.

When it comes to great beaches, California has dozens of them. Huntington Beach, however, has really gone to the dogs – literally.
The beautiful beach city hosted the annual Surf City Surf Dog competition this weekend.